If tight spaces are a problem for you, a dormer extension can be the best answer. Perhaps your household is expanding, you want to create a better workspace at home or you simply like the open vibe of a loft, a dormer extensions make excellent use of unused space. Due to their purpose of raising the ceiling and floor spaces, loft upgrades are quickly becoming popular among people in the UK. However, what is a dormer extension and how do you set about planning it?
Dormer Extensions: A Smart Way to Add Space and Value to Your Home
A dormer extension changes your attic or loft into a room that can be used for living. By putting a boxy section out from the slope of the roof, you form both a vertical part and a section that either levels off or has a new roof slope. As a result, the loft area gets much bigger and taller, so you can easily make it into a room for living, working or even for extra privacy with a bathroom inside.
Besides gaining more room, dormer extensions improve the value of your home. According to what the experts say, having a loft conversion can give your home a value increase of up to 20%. A dormer extension is useful for those planning to sell their home as it increases value and for those wanting to stay put, because it brings comfort and more space.
Read more about the inside dormer loft conversion.
What is a Dormer Extension and How Does It Work?
In essence, a dormer extension is a part of a pitched roof that rises straight up to make extra space in the loft. Dormers change the shape of the roof by adding extensions to make more room, not by only using the existing roof as with rooflight conversions. Such additions most often include vertical windows or doors that help make the ceiling higher and make the new space brighter.
You start by doing a careful survey of your roof structure, the ceiling height and how much usable space the loft already has. A structural engineer or an architect will check that the dormer can go in without affecting how strong the building is. Usually, contractors remove a spot of the current roof, put in place the dormer structure and finish it to blend with the outside of your house. This process is relatively clear but requires skill and it usually takes 6–8 weeks to finish, depending on how complicated the project is.
Click here to know more about the mansard vs dormer loft conversion.
Types of Dormer Extensions and Which One Suits Your Home
Dormers are not all the same and need to be customised. Picking the best type is a matter of your home’s design, your spending plan and your taste. These are the most pervasive architectural styles.
1. Flat roof dormers
It’s the most favoured choice by UK households. It offers the highest internal space and building it is often the cheapest. Because of their straight lines, the clean furniture matches modern homes which makes the large loft particularly spacious and airy.
2. Dormer styled in a pitched roof form
This style is traditional and is often found in conservation spots or in historical buildings. While a sloped roof matches the neighbourhood’s design, it does not give as much room inside the home as a flat roof.
3. L-Shaped Dormer
Terrace homes, the L-shaped dormer puts two dormers together at 90 degrees. Because of its size, it’s able to support having an extra room or a magnificent master suite.
4. Hip-to-Gable Dormer
In a sense, this type converts the slope on the hipped roof into a vertical gable that is upright and flat. The rear dormer is often added so more space can be used and this design is usual in semi-detached or detached houses.
Planning Permission and Regulations for Dormer Conversions
Permission for many dormer extensions is usually granted under permitted development rights which is very appealing. But, this only applies under certain conditions.
- Terraced houses can extend no more than 40m³ and semi-detached or detached properties can extend up to 50m³ of the original building.
- It shouldn’t come past the eaves line that was initially on your building.
- The same material should not cover the roof eaves more than 20cm.
- The materials used must be in keeping with the existing house.
- No part of the dormer should be higher than the original roof.
For works in a conservation area, national park, listed building or major developments, you usually have to apply for planning permission. If there has been no planning permission, building regulations are still required for safety, good insulation and ensuring everything is structurally sound. A skilled architect or loft professional will assist in following the regulations and in preparing the necessary paperwork.
Benefits of Adding a Dormer to Your Loft Conversion
A dormer extension adds space to your home and also improves it in design and function. The main benefit is the extra headroom, so your loft can be a room you can actually use, instead of just a bland crawlspace. Such an increase in area lets you fit in king beds, roomy wardrobes, study spaces and even standalone bathtubs.
Natural light is also a big advantage. Vertical windows or French doors and Juliet balconies turn a dormer extension into a much brighter space than a simple rooflight. This space comes out bright and friendly and it feels like it belongs in your home, not as just something added on.
The outside appearance is given a little lift as well. A good dormer design gives the roof more character and draws attention. A dormer can make a home different from others on the same street, but still fit with the area.
Once again, adding a dormer tends to increase the value of your home much more than the cost of the project itself. It is an inexpensive option to make your home nicer and raise its market value.
